"You can try the part I haven't bitten."
[Hmm...]
Lilligant gathered up her fluffy princess dress of leaves and muttered softly before leaning forward, quickly taking a bite of the Pecha Berry, and immediately drawing back to chew in small mouthfuls.
"Is it sweet?"
[I couldn't tell...]
"Then have another bite."
["Speedy Hot Girl," Romance Scenario progress: 44%]
Striking while the iron was hot, Shen Qi took back the Pecha Berry as Lilligant said she was done, then took a huge bite right where she had nibbled it.
[Ah-you cheated!]
"What else could I do? We can't waste it."
Her leafy hands curled slightly as she pounded his shoulder. Her blows were already light, but Lilligant worried she might hurt him and softened them even further.
["Speedy Hot Girl," Romance Scenario progress: 46%]
From sitting quietly together to sharing a Berry, their early interactions had gone quite well. But Shen Qi knew he needed to find a topic to keep things going. A deeper bond couldn't be built on teasing and playful scuffles alone. It required deeper understanding and communication.
"How did you end up at Pokémon High School, Lilligant?"
In the games, the places where Petilil and Lilligant appeared were very far from Kanto-practically half a planet away.
[I... came here for a competition with my old Pokémon Trainer.]
Shen Qi grew wary. He hadn't expected a casual conversation starter to nearly set off a land mine.
When they had met in the teaching building that night, mentioning her Pokémon Trainer had made "Speedy Hot Girl's" progress drop by 2%, with signs it would keep falling.
Checking the game interface now, he saw that "Speedy Hot Girl's" progress was still at 46%.
The fact that it hadn't dropped was already a major improvement. It meant Lilligant was no longer as reluctant to discuss painful memories with Shen Qi.
Still, Shen Qi didn't dare follow up by asking what had happened to Lilligant's Pokémon Trainer. He hurriedly switched to something that interested her.
"Actually, I really love racing."
A resentful message came from Lilligant.
[I could tell. You actually beat me with a junk scooter like Little Sheep...]
"Speedy Hot Girl's" Romance Scenario progress dropped by 1%.
"Damn, that was a land mine too? There's no guarding against them!"
Chapter 21: Adding Each Other as Friends
"Lilligant, don't you lose money competing in amateur races somewhere like Island 6?"
Little Sheep was cheap, and so were its parts and repair costs, but this repair would probably still cost one or two thousand b.
If Shen Qi received the Berry gift box... selling it certainly wouldn't necessarily bring in its retail price. The money he ultimately pocketed might keep him from taking a loss, since the organizers reimbursed the winner's energy expenses.
A tiny profit... was as good as no profit.
Lilligant lived and ate at Pokémon High School, so she had no living expenses. Shen Qi couldn't possibly support himself on such meager earnings. They were far too unreliable, too. Who could guarantee first place every time?
Becoming a professional Racing Driver... was even further out of reach.
"Lilligant, if I want to see you again... is there some way I could contact you?"
[Lilligant glanced at the boy, looking playful and shy.]
["Speedy Hot Girl," Romance Scenario progress: 47%]
That left Shen Qi a little embarrassed, as if he were pressuring a girl to give him her address.
Watching him flounder, Lilligant finally looked rather pleased with herself, as though she had successfully gotten her revenge.
Still, she couldn't bear to leave Shen Qi embarrassed for too long. She reached down and pulled out a phone.
Who taught you to keep things inside your dress?!
Shen Qi desperately wanted to ask that, but ultimately kept it to himself.
Questions like where her racing vehicle had come from or who had taught her those habits... would surely all lead back to Lilligant's previous Pokémon Trainer.
Judging by her reactions, that Pokémon Trainer had probably passed away.
With his suspicions going that far, Shen Qi absolutely wouldn't step on that land mine. Or rather, he would have to wait until her progress was higher and Lilligant opened her heart further before moving on to a deeper understanding.
Though he called them Leaf-Blade Hands, Lilligant's hands were actually like the long leaves of a clivia. With no nimble fingers at their tips, using a phone was quite difficult.
She opened the social media app a little clumsily...
[Let's... what was this called...]
"Add each other as friends."
[Right!]
It had been a long time since anyone had added Lilligant as a friend, and she hadn't used the messaging function in ages either. She was quite rusty.
If he were adding another girl as a friend with the aim of pursuing her route, he would certainly look for opportunities to chat more often.
But with Lilligant, Shen Qi knew he couldn't do that.
Lilligant had to tap the screen with her leaves one touch at a time. It was rather like using a touchscreen with a single finger, except her leaves weren't nearly as nimble.
And... she couldn't talk on the phone.
There were plenty of inconveniences, but adding each other as friends was still a good thing. When he wanted to see Lilligant, he could at least send a message to arrange a meeting.
Neither of them would have to act like a private detective, searching places where the other might turn up.
Lunch break was almost over, and the warning bell rang.
Shen Qi merely felt disappointed, but Lilligant gave a small, awkward shudder beside him. Clearly, the prospect of parting stirred stronger emotions in her.
[Narrator: Lilligant thought... if only they could sit together a little longer.]
"Lilligant, we have a Pokémon interaction class this afternoon."
It let students spend more time with Pokémon and put what they had learned into practice.
If Lilligant wanted, she could absolutely attend class with Shen Qi.
Still, Shen Qi already suspected that Lilligant would probably refuse.
She wasn't nearly this relaxed around other people.
Lilligant carried too many secrets, which made her very reluctant to grow close to humans.
[Thank you for inviting me. I...]
"I know. I just wanted to offer. Hopefully, we can make it happen someday."
[Okay.]
["Speedy Hot Girl," Romance Scenario progress: 50%] [Progress has reached 50%. Awarding the third-stage route reward.]
Lilligant rose a little anxiously and nudged Shen Qi, who seemed to be spacing out.
[Hurry... class is starting.]
"Oh, right!"
The afternoon history and Pokémon interaction classes weren't particularly important, but with Lilligant showing such concern, she certainly wouldn't let Shen Qi skip class to chat with her.
"I'm off, then. I'm looking forward to seeing you again."
Lilligant folded her hands over her lower abdomen and gave a curtsy like a noble princess from long ago.
Shen Qi emerged from the bushes. As the parted vegetation closed behind him, that beautiful figure that stirred his imagination disappeared from view.
There were five minutes between the warning bell and the actual class bell. Running from the lake to the teaching building in the academic area would be a tight squeeze.
As he passed the near end of the lakeshore, Bellossom was still dancing in the sunshine.
Oh, it's that young boy from earlier.
Passion alone won't win over a girl with such delicate feelings.
Why not come dance with me instead?
Shen Qi couldn't understand Pokémon speech. He simply greeted Ms. Jixiang's Bellossom and hurried away.
"Hey..."
In class, Xiao Chun called softly from the neighboring seat across the aisle. "Where did you go at lunchtime? You didn't even eat."
"Mm, hold on."
Shen Qi answered just as quietly, still chewing.
His textbook stood upright on the desk, hiding his lunch box-a common trick students used to sneak food during class.
Only after swallowing his rice did Shen Qi turn back. "I went to train."
"You're working that hard? Are you trying to unlock your Energy Chakra in your first year?"
Once a person could clearly sense three types of Type Energy, an Energy Chakra would open within their body. Only then could they begin controlling energy and learning Trainer skills.
Shen Qi couldn't imagine what having an Energy Chakra would feel like.
Thinking back to the novels he had read, he kept wondering whether it was something like a cultivator entering "Foundation Establishment," or advancing from the acquired realm to the innate realm.
"Actually, we're way behind the schools elsewhere."
Shen Qi had looked it up. At ordinary schools in Kanto, most students could unlock their Energy Chakra by the time they completed their first-year coursework.
If they truly couldn't unlock it, they would have to switch to preparing for Pokémon-related work in their second year rather than becoming Pokémon Trainers.
At Pokémon High School, meanwhile, the basic first-year requirement was merely to sense one type of Type Energy. Even a vague perception would do.
By the time Pokémon High School students graduated, the gulf between their abilities and those of students from other high schools was enormous.
"What can we do about it...?" Xiao Chun shrugged. "Our school only has a handful of teachers, and most of the Pokémon have serious problems, too. So everyone knows we'll most likely only end up as Pokémon workers."
Before you continue